Jane's Stuff

Jane enjoys drawing and painting. Join her. Doodling, drawing, ART - all of it is great for brain health! Check out Jane's Youtube channel below. And if you see a picture on my blog you would like to purchase send Jane an email (or check out Jane's store).

Above is the rug and my trusty fountain pen. Below is part of the title page. I can't show you anymore because it is a Christmas present. Some of it I am really happy with. The last few pages I got kind of tired so the illustrations get a bit lazy. When I add color it should look fine. I used a needle for leather work to sew the pages onto this rug (and cardboard). This would totally be a ridiculous present for many, but for who it is for, I think that person (or persons) will love it.

Back on September 3 I shared an idea I got from Tessa McSorley's website about how to re-purpose old books. I used a book with a very sweet cover that I liked. On my September 3 entry I gave instructions on how to actually make the book into a sketchbook.

I learned quite a bit with this first book:

1. If it is a really old book the pages may tear a lot depending on what kind of tool you use to make art on them.My fountain pen poked through the pages several times. I taped these holes up with masking tape. You must be sensitive to the pages on what and what you can't use on them (but if it is a newer book with newer pages this might not be an issue).

2. Sharpies work great on fragile paper. I normally don't draw with sharpies but hey, it is always great to change up what you create with.

3. The gesso wasn't a good idea. It added to the pages fragility.

4. And for me it is better to just go with what is there rather than making a plan. I had hoped to make a story out of my pages. I still might, but I have found what I've created so far may end up being separate subjects in future pieces of art.

So, I am going to share eight pictures with you from my book. The book is not complete by any means but it has been fun. Pastels work well. Ordinary crayons work. And I used a lot of watercolor pencil.